Release mechanism



Feb. 28, 1933. A. c, RowLEY RELEASE MEGHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet l Feb, 28, 1933. A, C, ROWLEY 1,899,827

RELEASE MECHANI SM Filed OCT.. 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZMS/dor.-

gzJHZO/Weys Patented Feb. 28", 1933 ,marten STATES- IYIATIC SPRINKLERCOMPANY, TION OF PENNSYLVANIA PATENT Vofi-Fic-la ARTHUR c. RoWLn'Y, or'PHILADELPHIA,v PENNSYLVANIA; AssrGNon To GLOBE AUTO- RELEASE MECHANISMApplication nea october 23, 192s. z serial No. 314,511.

This invention relates to improvements in release devices, and theprincipal object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter 4which shall be simple in form, positive in operation, andunaffected by atmosphere or other variable external conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a release device ofgenera-l application which also shall be particularly well adapted foruse in conjunction with thermosensitive control means. n

Another object of the invention is to provide a release device adaptedfor remote contrcl or actuationwhich by reason of certain inherentcharacteristics shall be well adapted for use in conjunction withvarious types of fire extinguishing and control apparatus.

To these general ends, the invention contemplates the provision of anovel trip mechanism which shall be operatively connected by novel meanswith a suitable thermosensitive or other control or release device ordevices which may be located at a remote point or points and which underpredetermined conditions shall be effective to release said mechanism. 4

More specifically, the invention in its preferred embodimentcontemplates the provision of a release device for sustained loadsresponsive to the pressure of the atmosphere whereby an artificiallycreated vacuum is effect-ive to release the said load.

The invention further resides in certain novel and structural detailsand devices hereinafter set forth including a novel form of junctionwhereby a single trip'mechanism may be connected with a plurality ofremote release devices.

In the att-ached drawings: 1

Figure 1 is an assembly view of a. release mechanism made `in accordancewith my invention, the trip device forming an element thereof beingshown in front elevation;Y

F ig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2%.-2, Fig. 1, showing themechanism in the set position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the tripy de.- vice with the casing coverremoved showing parts of the mechanism in the relative positions shownin Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the mechanism inthe released condition; n

Fig. 5 Vis a plan view of a preferred form of release device for use inconnection with the aforesaid trip mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line6-6, Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a junction boxfor use 1n connecting the tripmechanism with a plurality of the release devices shown in Figsr and 6,and

Fig. 8y is asection on the line 8 8, Fig. 7.

With reference to the drawings, the trip mechanism illustrated in Figs.1 to 4, inelusive, comprises a chamber 1 having a flexible wall 2 in theform of a diaphragm; a member 3 adapted to beretained in a predeterminedposition against a force tending to move itofrom said position; areleasable OP PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A ooRPonA- retaining latch 4for the member 3; and trip l i mechanism operatively `connecting thelatch 4 with the diaphragm 2. The entire mechanism, with the exceptionof themember, 3, is in the present instance housed within a which has inthe interior thereof a detachable bracket 6 which in the presentinstance carries the latch 4 and the trip mechanism.

The latch 4 consists of a bell crank lever, onearm17 of which engagesand-normally retains the hooked end of the member 3, which latter asclearly shown in the present instance consists of a lever pivoted at 8between lugs 9 upon the hinged front cover 11 of the casing 5, the lever3 having projecting therefrom a bail 12 constitutingrmeans for attachingan external element to the lever 3. The outer or upper hooked end oftheA lever 3 is adapted to extend inwardlythrough an aperture 13 in thecover 11 to be engaged by the arm 7 of the latch lever 4, as previouslyset forth and as illustrated in Fig, 2.

The latch lever 4 in addition to the arm 7 comprises a dependingarm 14which is adapted at its lower end to engage behind a shoulder 15 formedon one arm 16 ofga lever` 17 pivotally mounted at 18 between lugs 19projecting forwardly from the bracket 6.

- casing 5 which includes thelchamber 1 and i beneath a cross piece 26on a bifurcated lever Vso 27 pivotally mounted at 28 betweenllugs 29projecting rearwardly from the bracket-"6.

The lower bifurcated end Yof this lever 27V` straddles a pin 31connected to the diaphragm 2 y head 32 on said pin. The lever 27 extendsuwardly above the pivot 28 and has attached to the upper portion thereofa spring A 33,the other end of which in the present instance is attachedto apin 34 on the lbracket. 6, this spring functioning normally toresiliently retain the lower end ofthe lever 27 against the head 32 ofthe pin 31.

It will be apparent that the latch 4 is re tained in an .elevatedposition adapted to retain the lever 3 in an upright position, as shownin Fig. 2,through the medium of the arm 14 which is held in the advancedposition by the shoulder 15 of the lever 17, said lever being held inthe advanced position in which the shoulder is effective to hold the arm14 by the shoulder 22 of the lever 23, which as previously set forth andas shown in Fig. 2 engages theupper end of the arm'y 21 Vof the lever17. The outer end of the lever 23 being normally retained under thecross piece 26 of the lever 27 is prevented from moving upwardly torelease the arm 21 until such time as the lever 27 is drawn rearwardlyby vmeans hereinafter set forth to an extent such that the member 26clears the rear end of the said lever 23. The mechanism isV shown inFig. 2 in the set condition in which the member 3 is retained in theelevated position. v

The diaphragm 2 on one side, that from which the pin 31 projects, issubjected to atmospheric pressure, so that a corresponding pressure inthe interior of the chamber 1 permits theV diaphragm to assume a normalrelaxed position, asin Fig. 2. Ifthis chamber is evacuated, thediaphragm 2 in response to the y,unbalanced atmospheric pressure on theone side will be flexed, as shown in Fig. 4, this movement of thediaphragm being suficient to oscillate the lever 27 rearwardly to anextent releasing the lever 23, which thereby is permitted to oscillateupwardlyto any extent releasing'the arm 21 from the shoulder 22, therebypermitting the lever 17 to oscillate rearwardly, and releasing the arm14-from the shoulder 15. The arm 14 being released, the latch lever 4 isfree to oscillate in a clockwise direction, thereby releasing the member3 which is permitted to fall outwardly on its pivot 8. A spring pressedplunger 30 in the cover-11 acts to force the member 3 outwardly from theand normally engages an enlarged l cover. The release positions of thevarious parts are shown in Fig. 4. v c

It will be noted that the latch lever 4has a rearward extension 35 towhich is attached a spring'36, the lower end of which is connected to apin 37 on the bracket 6, this spring functioning, following release ofthemechanism asy described above, to exert'a pressure tending tooscillatethe lever .4 countercloclr- 'wise into its operative orfs'etposition. This return oscillation of thele'ver 4, however,is

vpreventedby a latch 38 pivoted at 39 in the top forward portion of thecasing, which under the;action of gravity or of a spring' 41 movesdownwardly from` a normal elevated position,as sho-wn in Fig. 2, whichit occupies when the parts are set, tothe position shown/in Fig. 4v inwhich it engages the arm7 of the latch lever 4 and prevents a returnoscillation of the latter to the operative position. When in theposition shown lin Fig. 4, itl will be noted that the lower end of thearm 14 lies directly above the outer portion'of the arm 1G of the lever17, which prevents this lever from assuming an upright normal position,as shown in Fig. 2. Until, therefore, the latch'38 is moved inwardly andupwardly,the' mechanism following a lated to elevate the lever 17 untilsuch time as the latch 38 is shifted inwardly to release the latch lever4 and to permit the'spring 36 to shift this latch lever forward into thenormal position. The latch 38 is so arranged in bach of the opening i3as to be engaged by the end ofthe lever 3 when the latter is moved upwardly into the set position whereby in the nal movement of this` leverinto the positionshown in Fig.- 2, the latch 38 is shifted inwardly,thereby releasing the latch lever 4 andpermitting it to oscillate underthe action of the spring 36 into the operative or set position. Thismovement of the latch lever 4 permits the operator to oscillate theshaft 42 to bring the lever 17 into the upright position, as shown inFig. 2. f

It will be noted means is provided for retaining' the lever 23 in asubstantially horizontal position following its release by l th e lever27 and the subsequent release of the lever 17. vThis lever-suppcrtingmeans the present instance takestheform of a pin 43 extending betweenlugs 44 on thebraclret 6 underneath the saidlever 23. rlhis pin is soarranged that the outer end of the lever23 when supported therel'iykoccupies a position below the part 26 of the lever '27 whereby when airat atmospheric pressure is once more admitted to the chamber 1 and thediaphragm 2 and lever 27 move into the normal position as shown in Fig.2, this part 26 'is adapted to move into a position overlying the outerend of the lever 23. Under these circum-l stances, the outer end of thelever 23 is again prevented by said part 26 from moving'upwardly, and inorder to permit the arm 21 to move outwardly to a position behind theshoulder 22, as in Fig. 2, the opening in the outer end of theV lever 23through which the pivot 24 extends is slotted vertically whereby thisforward end of the lever may move upwardly sufficiently to permit theupper end of the arm 21 to pass thereunder. In order to immediatelyreturn the lever 23 to the normal position and to prevent accidentalrelease of the arm 21 from behind the shoulder 22, I

provide a spring 45 which is secured t0 the bracket 6 and overlies thelugs 25 engagingv the top outer portion of the lever 23, as clearlyillustrated.

`When, therefore, the arm 3 is moved upwardly so that the outer hookedend projects into the opening 13, the latch 38 is forced inwardly,thereby releasing the latchlever 4,

which thereupon moves from the position inV tion as shown in Fig. 2.

In conjunction with the foregoing device, I provide suitable meansadapted for direct connection with the chamber 1 and actuatable underpredetermined conditions 'to automatically evacuate the chamber 1 whichnormally is filled with air at atmospheric pressure. A preferred forniof this'device is illustrated'in F 5 and 6 of the drawings. As thereinillustrated, the :device comprises a casing 46 within which is mounted asylphon 47. The sylphon is secured in the casi-ng by a cap 48 which isthreaded into the upper enlarged part of the casing, which cap memberhas therein a port 49 and coupling means for connecting with the port apipe 51. f It will be noted that the port 49 communicates with theinterior of the sylphon. The cover member 48 also has a port 52 which iscontrolledby a gravity check valve 53, this valve port alsocommunicating `with the interior of the sylphon and permitting theexhaustion of the air or gas contents of the sylphon, while preventing areturn flow through the port 52.

In the interior of the sylphon is a. spring 54 which tends to. expandthesylphon, and the sylphon is also in the present instance connectedthrough a stem 55 with a `thermosensitive release device 56 inthe lowerpart of the casing. This latter device comprises in a preferred form abase member 57 thread- .ed into the lower partof the casing 46 andhaving, through said threaded portion an opening 58 through which thestem 55 ex i tends. At the lower end ofthe passage 58 the member 56 isformed with a seat for a disk 59, this disk having a stem61 extending.

outwardly and terminating in a flat disk or head 62. Slidable on thestem 61 is a washer 63, between which' and the inner face of the head 62is confined a-body of fusible composition 64, thisbody being surroundedand confined at the sides by acap 6.5 `which fits over the head 62 andat itsedges engagesv the washer 63. It will be apparent that solong asthe fusible composition remains intact, 'the f washer 63 is preventedfrom moving towards the head 62. Also slidableon the stem 61 andengaging the outer face of the `disk 59 is an arm 66, the extremities ofwhich engagethe inner faces of a pair of levers 67, 67, the outer endsof whichy engage and fulcrum in y back of the inwardly beaded annularlower edge 68 of themember 56, while the inner ends thereof engage inback of the sleeve 63. The arrangement is `such that in assembly and byreason Y of the spring 54 within the sylphon 47 a positive pressure isexerted throughy the stem 55 upon the disk 59 tending to force this diskaway from its seat. This, however, is prevented by the arm 66 whichbearing against the levers 67 tends to force the outer ends of theselevers outwardly about the inner ends as fulcrums, as set forth above.yThe outer ends of the levers, however, are held inwardly by the washer63 which is prevented im;

from moving outwardly on the stem 61 by the fusible composition confinedbetween the washer and the head 62, and within the cap 65. When thefusible composition vmelts under excessive temperature conditions, thewasher 63 is freed to move outwardly, thereby releasing the ends of the'levers67 and the arm 66 whereby the `disk 59 andstem 61 are free todrop away. This permits the spring 54 to expand the sylphon 47. Y Inpractice, the pipe 5l connected with the interior of the sylphon is alsoconnected withv the chamber l ofthe trip mechanism whereby when thesylphon expands,k the said chamber 1 is exhausted, with `the-resultanttripping of the associated'mechanism, as set forth above.

The release device may be reset after actuaT tion by contracting thesylphon through the medium of the stem 55,'which contractionv ispermitted by the exhaust port 52 through which the air within thesylphon exhausts, the arm 66 and levers 67 being replaced with the stem 61properly rechargedl with a fusible composition.

" In practice, itis customaryin a system including a single tripmechanism to*l employ p isn a number ofthe release devices' set forthabove, and in order to simplify the connection of these-devices withtheY trip mechanism, as in Fig. ll, I providethe junction boxillustrated in Figs. 7 and.A .This junction box comprises a casinglhaving in the bottom thereof a chamber 72 adapted to be connectedthrough a pipe 73 With the chamber l of Y the Atrip mechanism. YIhechamber7 2 has in the top thereoic a pair of ports 1x4: and 75 each ofWhich is controlled by a gravityx'clieck Y ber in a predeterminedposition,

Vvalve-76, Which control the connection be.-v

tween these ports 7fliand VY75 and `ports' 77 and l78 respectively inthe upper part-o they casing 7l.V As shown in Fig'. ll, one of theseports, lin ytlieprcsent instance the port 77, is connected Vthrough thepipe 5l with the sylphon 47 of one of' the release devices. If only twoof these release devices are used, obviously the sylphon of vthe seconddevice will be connected through a pipe 79 With the port 78. Inthehevent, however, thatmoievthan two of these release devices areemployed,l

th-e port 78 will beV connected With oneof the corresponding ports 77 or78,-of a second junction box. The chamber72 of each of' the junctionboxes is provided with a second Vport 81 Which if not needed may beplugged It Will be apparent that actuation or release of the sylphonexhaus-ter may be through other mediums or by other means than thethermosensitive one herein disclosedi Y. I claim:

l.V A release device oomprisinga movable ysaid memn a chamber having aflexible Wall, trip mechanism operatively connecting said flexible Wallwith vthe said lock whereby the movement of said flexible Wall due to achanging pressure'in the member, mechanism for locking `chamber releasessaid loclr, a sylphon operatively associated with said chamber, and temferature-controlled moans for actuatinO1 said .sylphon to exhaust thechamber.

j 2. A release device comprising a movable member, mechanism for'locking said member in a predetermined position, chamber havingaflexible Wall, trip 'mechanism operativelyconnecting said flexible Wallwith the said loch whereby themovement of said ilexiblewall due to achangingv pressure in the chamber releases said lock, a sylphonoperatively associated With said chamber, a spring for actuating saidsylphon, means for holding the spring ina restrained. condition, and atemperature-controlled lock for said holding means. Y

A. release device comprising a movable member, mechanism for lockingsaid member in a-predetermined position, a chamber having a flexibleWall, trip mechanism operatively connecting said flexible Wall vvith thethe combination With. load-sustaining means,

of means including a pressure Vresponsive actuating member for releasingsaid load, said member being exposed to atmospheric pressure, andevacuating means associated with said actuating member for creating adifferential pressure with respect `thereto whereby atmospheric pressureis eective to actuate said member to release the load.

5. A release device comprising an actuating memberin the form of aflexible diaphragm,said diaphragm constituting a Wall of a normallyclosed system and being exposed -tofatmospheric pressures, a sylphonoperatively associated With said system, thermally-'releasable means fornormally retaining the sylphon in a contracted condition, a spring forextending the sylphon to evacuate said system and thereby to motivatesaid diaphragm, and a valve for maintaining said system vat a pressurenot exceeding atmospheric.

6. A release device comprising anactuating member in the form of aflexible diaphragm, said diaphragm constituting a Wall of a normallyclosed system and being exposedto atmospheric pressures, a. sylphonoperatively associated With said system, thermally-releasable means fornormally-retaining the sylphon in a contracted condition, a spring forextending the sylphon to evacuatesaid system and thereby to motivatesaid diaphraghm, and means automatically operative'to prevent theinternal pressure of said systemfrom exceeding atmospheric.

7. A. release device comprising a normally closed system, an actuatingmember exposed on one side to atmospheric pressure and at Vthecther sideltothe internal pressure of said system, the position of said memberbeing controlled by the said opposing pressures, evacuating meansassociated with said system, means for acuating said evacuator, and

means for preventing the internal pressure of said system fromexceeding` atmospheric.

8'. In a release device for sustainedy loads, the combination withload-sustaining means, of means including a pressure-responsiveactuating member for releasing the load, said member normally beingmaintained in inoperative position by atmospheric pressure operating atboth sides thereof, and means for reducing the pressure at one side ofsaid member whereby the atmosphereic pressure at the opposite side iseffective to actuate the member to release the load.

9. A release device for sustained loads comprising afluidpressure-'actuated release element, means whereby said elementnormally is supported in a predetermined position by atmosphericpressure exerted at opposite sides thereof, and means for reducing thepressure at one side of said Velement whereby atmospheric pressure atthe opposite side eects a movement of the element actuating the releasedevice.

10. A release device for sustained-loads comprising aHuid-pressure-actuated release element, means whereby said element nor-Vmally is supported in a predetermined position by atmospheric pressureexerted at opposite sides thereof, and temperature-com.

trolled means for reducing the pressure at one side of said elementwhereby atmospheric pressure at the opposite side effects a movement ofthe element actuating the release device. Y

11. A release device fork sustained loads comprising an elementoperative by predetermined movement from a normal position to releasethe load, means for utilizing atmospheric pressure to maintain saidelement in the normal position, and means operative at a predeterminedtemperature for creating a differential pressure eecting said movementof the element releasing the load. Y

12. A release device for sustaining loads comprising an elementoperative by predetermined movement from a normal position to releasethe load, means for utilizing atmospheric pressure to maintainsaidelement in the normal position, and Huid-pump mechanism for creatinga dierential pressure effecting said movement of the element releasingthe load.

13. A release device for sustained loads comprising an element operativeby predetermined movement from a normal position to release the load,means for normally maintaining atmospheric pressures at opposite sidesof said element, and means including liuid pump mechanism for creating adify ferential pressure at opposite sides of ysaid element effectingmovement thereof releasing the load. y

14. A release device for sustained loads comprising an element operativeby predetermined movement from a normal position to release the load,means for normally maintaining equal luid pressure-s at opposite sidesof said element, and means including fluid pump mechanism for creating adifferential in the pressures at opposite sides of said element foreffecting movement thereof releasing the load.

15. A release device `for sustained loads comprising an elementoperative by predetermined movement from a normal position' to releasethe load, means for normally maintaining equal fluid pressures atopposite sides of said element, fluid pump mechanism for creating adifference in pressure at opposite sides of said element to therebyeffect movementof the element releasing the load, and thermosensitivemeans operative at a predetermined temperature for effecting actuationof said mechanism.A Y

16. A release device for sustained loads comprising an element operativebypredetermined movement from anormal position to release the load, saidelement being normally exposed at the opposite sides thereof to equalpressures, and means for decreas' ing the pressure at yone side of saidelement to thereby effect movement of theV element releasing the load.

ating the pressure at one side of said element to thereby effectmovement ment releasing the load.

18. A release mechanism for sustained loads comprising la box, a triparm mounted of the eleon the box-for supporting the load, a pendantlever disposed in the box and movable with the trip arm, a diaphragmlocated'in the box, a rockable member pivoted below the j pendantleverpcomprising a long arm, said lmember -also'comprising a short armadapt-` ed to be disposed in the path of the pendant lever when thediaphragm is untlexed for holding the trip arm rigid, and means actuatedby flexing of the diaphragm to release4 the pendant lever to permitmovement of the trip arm releasing the l-oad.

19. A release mechanism for sustained loads, and an actuator thereforcomprising a box, a trip arm mounted on the box to support the load, a.ypendant lever disposed in the box and movable with the trip arm, adiaphragm located in the box, a rocking member pivote-d below thependant lever comprising a long arm, said member also comprising a shortarm adapted to engage the pendant lever when the diaphragm is unflexedfor holding the trip arm in the loadsupporting position, and means totransmit Y the load. ARTHUR ROWLEY,

